Qin Yining also found it strange.

Since taking charge of household management, and with the court situation so tense, Qin Yining had specifically arranged for night watchmen in every empty courtyard to prevent exactly this sort of thing.

The hour was already late today—could it be that the night-watch women had been careless?

Qin Yining returned to her room to dress properly, then said: “I’ll go down to take a look.”

“This servant will accompany you,” Ji Yun had also finished dressing.

Qin Yining nodded and instructed Qiu Lu and Song Lan to watch the house, then left with Ji Yun.

The other sisters, not being in charge of household affairs, were merely curious onlookers even after discovering the fire. They weren’t particularly concerned, and seeing Qin Yining leading people downstairs, the sisters all laughingly reminded her to be careful.

“It’s nothing serious. Everyone should rest. Be careful of mosquitoes outside.” Qin Yining also smiled as she instructed them.

Among the girls, the eldest Third Cousin had already married out. Qin Yining, who ranked fourth and usually managed the inner residence’s provisions and affairs, commanded great respect from her younger sisters, who obediently returned to their rooms.

But just as Qin Yining and Ji Yun reached the courtyard, a piercing scream suddenly rang through the night sky.

“Ahhh—”

“Ji Yun, did you hear that?” Qin Yining’s palms turned cold.

“The situation doesn’t look right.” Ji Yun’s expression grew grave. “Miss, perhaps we should…”

Before she could finish, another scream came, and the sound was not far away, immediately followed by the metallic clashing of weapons meeting.

Qin Yining grabbed Ji Yun’s hand: “I’m afraid bandits have entered!”

The sisters still in their chambers also heard the sounds and all threw on clothes to come downstairs.

Some of the braver nannies reached the courtyard gate, grabbing wooden sticks to stand guard there.

At this moment, a roar came from outside the gate: “Bandits have entered the mansion! Everyone secure your doors!”

Others were also shouting: “Who are you people! How dare you break into the marquis’s mansion!”

“We’ve already reported to the authorities! The Five Cities Military Commissioner’s men will arrive soon!”

…

All the shouting came from the Qin family’s guards, while the other side remained silent. They could only hear the sound of clashing weapons and their own guards’ roars, occasionally mixed with screams from maids and servants, and the sounds were right outside the courtyard gate.

“Miss, what should we do!” Qiu Lu and Song Lan were both nervously pale.

Several young misses were also frightened colorless, huddling together.

Qin Yining was somewhat stunned.

What kind of people would break into the marquis’s mansion?

Was it the Cao family? Or other enemies of Qin Huaiyuan?

The fires in several courtyards in the rear residence must be because these bandits couldn’t determine which courtyard they all lived in, so they set fires randomly.

From the sounds outside, were they actually here to exterminate the entire Qin family!

Just as the area outside the courtyard was ablaze with fire, screams and fighting sounds intertwined, the gate of Shuoren Studio was struck with a loud “bang,” startling everyone in the courtyard into involuntary cries of alarm.

Eighth Miss burst into tears: “Mother!”

Sixth Miss quickly covered her mouth: “Don’t make a sound!”

A rough male voice immediately came from outside the gate: “Those women are all in here!”

The courtyard gate was struck with mountain-shaking force, and the two women guarding the gate were so frightened they couldn’t hold their sticks and kept retreating.

Qin Yining quickly whispered: “Everyone stay quiet and run!”

Just as she finished speaking, the tottering gate crashed to the ground with a bang, and masked men wielding steel knives burst in, immediately cutting down the two nearest women with a single stroke, blood splattering everywhere.

Qin Yining’s pupils contracted sharply as she grabbed Eighth Miss, who was closest to her, and ran.

These people were truly here to exterminate the family!

Ji Yun, Qiu Lu, and Song Lan all followed close behind.

Sixth Miss, Seventh Miss, and Qin Huining were holding hands and running for their lives.

But the bandits were numerous and powerful. Although guards rushed to intercept them, several still gave chase.

The maids and servants were better off—they exercised regularly and didn’t bind their feet, so they could run faster.

But the young ladies in the family all had bound feet!

Loyal maids protected their own misses, falling behind themselves, and were cut down with a single stroke when caught. Several maids and women were killed on the spot in succession.

Seeing this, Ji Yun drew the soft sword wrapped around her waist. No longer able to care about others, she grabbed Qin Yining with one hand and ran toward the back of Shuoren Studio’s building.

“Ji Yun!”

“Miss, I can’t fight so many people!”

There were too many assassins! Her two fists couldn’t defeat four hands. The prince had instructed her to protect Qin Yining’s safety, so she could only steel her heart and ignore the others.

Qin Yining was pulled along faster by Ji Yun, her other hand still gripping Eighth Miss who had been closest to her. As she ran, she kept looking back.

She saw Seventh Miss, who had fallen behind, stabbed in the abdomen. When the knife was pulled out, the bright cold gleam reflected the firelight in Seventh Miss’s wide-open eyes.

She also saw that Qin Huining, about to be caught, pushed Sixth Miss, who was running ahead of her, forward.

The blade sliced across Sixth Miss’s neck, blood spraying several feet high.

Tears blurred her vision. Qin Yining thought her terrified screams were loud, but only a soft moan escaped. Everything happened too quickly and suddenly—Qin Yining felt as if she were trapped in a nightmare.

Fire filled the sky, corpses lay everywhere, and the courtyard had become a living hell.

Perhaps killing a group of women and children was too easy? The bandits laughed heartily even as they slaughtered.

“Wasn’t it said that as long as Fourth Miss Qin was here, the Great Yan dynasty couldn’t be destroyed? How is your family being exterminated then!”

“Hand over Fourth Miss Qin, and we’ll give you a quick death!”

…

Qin Yining’s eyes widened—they were actually coming for her?

To come because of that rumor, these must be Great Zhou people!!

Qin Huining, about to be caught up to, immediately pointed at Qin Yining: “That’s Fourth Miss!”

Sure enough, the assassin who had caught up bypassed Qin Huining and Qiu Lu beside her, charging straight for Qin Yining.

Ji Yun gritted her teeth and shielded Qin Yining behind her, wielding her soft sword as she charged forward to block them, shouting: “Miss, run!”

Qin Yining retreated, watching Ji Yun block the assassin. At this moment she hated her own incompetence intensely, but she had no choice but to flee!

The assassins were numerous and powerful. In the blink of an eye, someone had circled around Ji Yun and struck directly at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining cried out in alarm and dodged to the side, but her movements were still too slow. She felt heat in her right shoulder as blood immediately gushed out, and her body pitched forward.

Eighth Miss and Song Lan, who were beside her, screamed in terror.

Song Lan gritted her teeth and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Qin Yining to shield her underneath.

The assassin’s follow-up strike plunged into Song Lan’s back.

“Song Lan!”

Qin Yining felt the weight pressing on her body and the heat from the blood, finally breaking into loud sobs.

The assassin pulled out his knife, letting blood splash on his face, kicked Song Lan away, and struck at Qin Yining again.

Ji Yun had nearly caught up by now, but her speed was ultimately insufficient. She could only scream with splitting eyes: “Miss!”

At this critical moment, a flying knife suddenly struck the assassin’s arm.

The assassin dropped his knife in pain, and Qin Yining took the opportunity to roll away.

As she stood up, she saw five black-clothed people wearing silver masks descend from above, firmly protecting the survivors behind them.

Silver-masked secret agents!

These five were obviously skilled in martial arts, blocking the seven or eight pursuing bandits in front of them.

One of them shouted loudly: “The Five Cities Military Commissioner will arrive soon! Quickly escort the miss away!”

A black-clothed person came forward and pulled up Qin Yining, who was still holding Song Lan: “Hurry!”

Ji Yun also protected Qin Yining’s side as they fought and retreated.

The surviving Eighth Miss, Qin Huining, and Qiu Lu all hurriedly followed the silver-masked people’s pace.